JPH0589325A - Automatic vending machine provided with program changing function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce cost, as well as, to save time when the specification of a program is changed at the request of a customer after the installation of an automatic vending machine by providing a means to output the program in a ROM to the outside of the automatic vending machine and the means to rewrite the contents of the ROM into the program inputted from the outside of the automatic vending machine. CONSTITUTION:The ROM which can be rewritten electrically is used for the ROM for storing the program, and the contents of this ROM are taken out to the outside of the automatic vending machine directly through an internal bus 15 or through the CPU 11 of the automatic vending machine and a data transmission line 16, Then, after changing it at the outside, the changed program is given to the automatic vending machine through reverse route, and the contents of the ROM are rewritten into this changed program. A program transmission and reception control part 5 reads and writes the program of the program storage part 12 of an automatic vending machine control part 1 directly through the internal bus 15, or executes this reading and writing operation through the CPU 11 and the serial transmission line 16.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine (also abbreviated as a vending machine) having a function of changing a control program at a customer or the like. In the following figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a control method for changing a program of a vending machine at a customer or the like, a control method of rewriting only data (that is, a portion corresponding to a RAM in a control section of the vending machine) is known. However, there is no control method for rewriting the program itself (that is, the one in the part corresponding to the ROM in the vending machine controller).

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional vending machine, since the program cannot be rewritten by the customer, it takes a lot of time and effort to add or change the program of the vending machine after shipping the vending machine. .. In addition, since it is difficult to add and change programs, a control program that is not normally required is put in the vending machine control unit, so that there is a disadvantage that the program amount of the control unit becomes larger than necessary. Even if the control of the vending machine can be changed by a simpler program change, the side that purchases the vending machine must request the manufacturer of the vending machine to change the program, which wastes time and money. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine with a program changing function that can solve such a problem.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an automatic vending machine according to claim 1 executes a program written in an electrically rewritable ROM (12A or the like) for a CPU (11). And the like), and means for outputting the program in the ROM to the outside of the vending machine, and means for rewriting the contents of the ROM to the program input from the outside of the vending machine. And

In the vending machine according to claim 2, in the vending machine according to claim 1, the program input / output in the ROM is directly performed via a bus (internal bus 15 or the like) to which the ROM is connected. To be something

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine according to the first aspect, the program input / output in the ROM is performed via a data transmission line (serial transmission line 16 or the like) connected to the CPU. Be done by

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine according to the first aspect, the program input / output to / from the outside of the vending machine is connected to the vending machine from the outside. Movable program transfer means (iC
Card 01A, etc.).

[0008]

[Function] The storage in the vending machine is provided so that the stored contents can be exchanged between the storage containing the program of the vending machine control unit and the external storage, and the program stored in the external storage is operated. Participants will be able to freely exchange and change programs.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a vending machine control unit, 11 is a CPU constituting the vending machine control unit 1, 12 is a program storage unit, 13 is a data storage unit, 14 is an input / output interface (abbreviated as i / o), Reference numeral 15 is an internal bus of the control unit 1, and 16 is a transmission line through which the CPU 11 transmits data, which is a serial transmission line in this example.
Here, the program storage unit is an electrically rewritable RO
It consists of M. That is, conventionally, it was considered that the ROM cannot be rewritten in a state where it is incorporated in a circuit, but there is a ROM (e.g., E ² ROM, flash memory, etc.) that can be electrically written and erased, and this is stored in the program storage unit. By using it for 12, the program can be rewritten.

Next, 2 is a money discriminating machine which communicates with the control section 1 through the i / o 14 of the vending machine control section to discriminate the amount of money to be inserted and return change, and 3 is also through the i / o 14. A push button input determination means 4 for transmitting a push button input such as a product selection button or a keyboard to the control unit 1 is a product unloading means for unloading a product in response to a command from the CPU 11 via the i / o 14. Next, 5 is a program transmission / reception control unit that transmits / receives a program through the vending machine control unit 1 and its internal bus 15 or serial transmission line 16, and 6 is a program storage unit that stores the program transmitted / received by the program transmission / reception control unit 5.
The program transmission / reception control unit 5 and the program storage unit 6 constitute a program transmission / reception unit 01. Further, 7 is a program changing device, and 8 is a program display device.

In the vending machine control unit 1, the CPU 11 reads a program from the program storage unit 12 and controls the vending machine via the i / o 14. Further, the CPU 11 reads / writes data from / into the data storage unit 13 as necessary to execute a program. The program transmission / reception control unit 5 directly connects to the internal bus 15
The program stored in the program memory 12 of the vending machine controller 1 is read or written via the, or this read / write operation is performed via the CPU 11 and the serial transmission line 16. The program read by the program transmission / reception control unit 5 is transferred to another program storage unit 6 and displayed on the program display device 8, and the program is changed by the program changing device 7, and then stored in the program storage unit 6 again. , From the program transmission / reception control unit 5 to the program storage unit 12 of the vending machine control unit 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the concrete configuration of FIG. In FIG. 2, 12A is an electrically rewritable ROM as the program storage section 12 in the vending machine control section 1, and 13A is the same data storage section 13.
As RAM. The CPU in the vending machine controller 1
Here, 11 is also referred to as CPU # 1. In addition, 01A is an iC card as a program transfer part, and 5A is this iC card.
The CPUs # 2 and 6A as the program transmission / reception control unit 5 constituting the C card 01A are also memory cards as the program storage unit 6. Reference numeral 7A is a personal computer that also serves as the program changing device 7 and the program display device 8. CN1 is a connector for connecting the internal bus of the vending machine controller 1 and the CPU # 2 (5A) of the iC card 01A,
CN2 is a connector for connecting the memory card 6A of the iC card 01A and the personal computer 7A.

Here, the CPU # 1 (11) mainly controls the vending machine. If you want to change the program of this vending machine,
When the iC card 01A is connected to the connector CN1 of the customer's vending machine, the CPU # 2 (5A) transfers C via the internal bus 15.
Send a request to PU # 1 to send DMA (Direct Memory
The program stored in the memory card 6A is directly inserted into the electrically writable and erasable ROM 12A of the vending machine control unit 1 by the Access method, or the program in the ROM 12A is read and stored in the memory card 6A. The program of the memory card 6A can be changed, added or deleted by the personal computer 7A by bringing the iC card 01A back to the office or the like and connecting it to the personal computer 7A via the connector CN2, and then put into the memory card 6A again.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the concrete configuration of FIG. In FIG. 3, the CPU # 1 (11) and the CP of FIG.
The connection with U # 2 (5A) is changed, CN1A is C
PU # 1 (11) serial transmission line 16 and CPU # 2
It is a connector for connecting (5A). In this case CPU #
2 exchanges programs via the CPU # 1 and the serial transmission line 16.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the concrete construction of FIG. In FIG. 4, the memory card 6A of FIG.
6B. 01B is the new portable program transmission / reception unit.

FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the concrete construction of FIG. In FIG. 5, the memory card 6A of FIG.
6B. 01C is this new program transmission / reception unit, and this transmission / reception unit 01C is always placed in the office and connected to the personal computer 7A. Therefore, the serial transmission line 16 in this case connects the program transmission / reception unit 01C placed in this office and the vending machine control unit of the installation destination.

[0017]

According to the present invention, the CPU for executing the program written in the electrically rewritable ROM 12A.
The vending machine controlled by 11 is the ROM 12
Means for outputting the program in A to the outside of the vending machine via the internal bus 15 or the serial transmission line 16, and the program input from the outside of the vending machine via the internal bus 15 or the serial transmission line 16 ROM1
Since it is equipped with a means for rewriting the contents of 2A,
Since the vending machine management side can easily change the vending machine program, specification changes and version upgrades can be performed immediately. In addition, since the customer can easily change the specifications of the vending machine, it is not necessary to put unnecessary programs in the vending machine in advance, which makes maintenance and management of the program easier.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the specific configuration of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the specific configuration of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the specific configuration of FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the specific configuration of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 01 (01A to 01C) Program sending / receiving unit 01A iC card 1 Vending machine control unit 2 Money selling means 3 Push button input determining means 4 Product unloading means 5 Program sending / receiving control unit 5A CPU # 2 6 Program storage unit 6A Memory card 6B RAM 7 Program change Device 7A PC 8 Program display device 11 CPU # 1 12 Program storage unit 12A ROM 13 Data storage unit 13A RAM 14 Input / output interface (i / o) 15 Internal bus 16 Serial transmission line CN1 connector CN1A connector CN2 connector

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine controlled by a CPU that executes a program written in an electrically rewritable ROM, and means for outputting the program in the ROM to the outside of the vending machine. , To the program entered from the outside of this vending machine
An automatic vending machine with a program changing function, which is provided with means for rewriting the contents of the OM. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the program in the ROM is input / output directly through a bus to which the ROM is connected. vending machine. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the program input / output in the ROM is performed via a data transmission path connected to the CPU. Vending machine with. 4. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the program input / output to / from the outside of the vending machine is a movable program transmitting / receiving means connected to the vending machine from the outside. A vending machine with a program changing function, which is stored in a vending machine.